Chapter 4

Sienna POV

The launch event was dazzling, packed with media and celebrities.

I was supposed to be confined to the western suburb villa, but out of the blue, Ethan had someone deliver a haute couture gown and ordered me to attend.

"Yolanda's signing session needs an assistant to hand her pens and organize manuscripts. You're most familiar with this material. You'll go."

Ethan's reasoning sounded official, but every word cut like a blade.

I wore an ill-fitting gray business suit and stood in the shadows where the spotlights couldn't reach.

I watched the center of the stage.

Yolanda wore a white haute couture gown, looking every bit the fairy tale princess. She held the trophy that should have been mine, smiling gracefully and beautifully.

"This work wouldn't exist without the most important person in my life."

Yolanda spoke into the microphone, gazing affectionately at Ethan in the front row.

"He gave me inspiration, and he pulled me out of the abyss of depression."

Thunderous applause erupted.

Ethan walked onstage and took the microphone from the host.

His usually stern face now wore an unusually gentle smile.

"Yolanda is a genius. She deserves the best of everything this world has to offer."

Ethan looked at Yolanda, his voice deep and pleasant.

Then, before countless flashing cameras, he dropped to one knee and produced a dazzling diamond ring.

"Yolanda, marry me."

The crowd went wild. Romantic confetti rained down from above.

I stood in the corner, coldly watching this scene unfold.

My heart had gone numb from pain. Even breathing tasted like blood.

Eight years.

I had accompanied him through his family's most difficult power struggles, shielded him from harm in the business world, and even nursed him meticulously for a month when he had a bleeding ulcer.

I had naively thought that if I just kept waiting, someday he would turn around and truly see me.

But now, he was giving all his glory, favor, and promises to another woman.

And I had been personally pushed into the mud by his hands, forced to witness their happiness.

"Could the assistant please bring up the books for signing?"

The host's voice suddenly rang out.

A spotlight hit me.

Every eye in the venue focused on me.

I froze in place.

Yolanda smiled and beckoned.

"Come on over, everyone's waiting."

Ethan also turned his head, his gaze locking coldly onto me with unquestionable authority.

I took a deep breath, picked up the thick stack of new books, and walked toward the stage step by step.

The book's cover bore Yolanda's name. The illustrations were Oliver's. The words were mine.

This was my brother's and my flesh and blood, now reduced to props for someone else's romance.

When I reached Yolanda's side, she suddenly lowered her voice to a volume only we could hear.

"Sienna, see? Your life's work, your man. They're all mine now. You're nothing but a complete failure."

My hands trembled violently. The books tumbled from my arms and scattered across the floor with a loud crash.

Gasps rippled through the audience.

"What kind of work is this? You can't even do such a simple task!"

Ethan shouted harshly.

"Hurry up and pick them up! Apologize to Yolanda!"

I looked at the books scattered on the floor, at Ethan's heartless face, and suddenly found it all absurd.

I didn't bend down to pick up the books. Instead, I stood straight and looked directly at Ethan.

"Ethan, do you really love her?"

My voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet venue, it rang out clearly.

Ethan's brow furrowed tightly.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Security, get her out of here!"

"If you don't love her, why did you steal my life to give to her?"

I smiled, the last light in my heart extinguishing completely.

"If you do love her, then why do you pin me down every night and call out her name?"

The moment those words left my mouth, the entire venue fell deathly silent.

Yolanda's face went deathly pale. Ethan's eyes churned with a terrifying storm.

"Shut her up and drag her out!"

Ethan exploded with rage.

Several security guards rushed forward, roughly twisting my arms behind my back and dragging me away.

I didn't struggle. I just turned back and looked deeply at Ethan one last time.

In my heart, there was no more love, no more hate. Only the dead ashes of what once was.

Ethan, I don't owe you anything anymore.